I love it. People know I'm right, so they have to resort to taking pot shots at me. It's great being a heel.

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Some are taking pot shots, but not all, and the ones that aren't (like zagor) are making decent points. Djokovic might be brazen in victory, but his humility in defeat is stunning for a top player. He embraced Rafa after he won the USO in 2010, which would have given Nole his first major since the '08 AO, almost 3 years. And also after the '12 FO which would've given Nole 4 majors in a row. I don't see how one MTO makes him the "worst sportsman ever".

Some are taking pot shots, but not all, and the ones that aren't (like zagor) are making decent points. Djokovic might be brazen in victory, but his humility in defeat is stunning for a top player. He embraced Rafa after he won the USO in 2010, which would have given Nole his first major since the '08 AO, almost 3 years. And also after the '12 FO which would've given Nole 4 majors in a row. I don't see how one MTO makes him the "worst sportsman ever".

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But he took one last year as well during the final. And his history of questionable retirements is unparalleled by any other top player.

But he took one last year as well during the final. And his history of questionable retirements is unparalleled by any other top player.

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Hmm, well retirements might be a knock on his fighting spirit when he was younger, but I don't know why they're a knock against his sportsmanship. Like for example, when he retired against Nadal in the '07 Wimby SF or RG QF. It might be a point against him in terms of courage (which certainly isn't a problem NOW), but not in terms of sportsmanship.

MTO's on the other hand, sure, they're not great sportsmanship but is that really enough to anoint him the worst sportsman ever? Given how he acts in defeat, his praise of his peers etc, I think you're being harsh.

Hmm, well retirements might be a knock on his fighting spirit when he was younger, but I don't know why they're a knock against his sportsmanship. Like for example, when he retired against Nadal in the '07 Wimby SF or RG QF. It might be a point against him in terms of courage (which certainly isn't a problem NOW), but not in terms of sportsmanship.

MTO's on the other hand, sure, they're not great sportsmanship but is that really enough to anoint him the worst sportsman ever? Given how he acts in defeat, his praise of his peers etc, I think you're being harsh.

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Well said. Djokovic has certainly matured quite a bit over the years. I could see why maybe some people would have disliked him earlier in his career but not now. And he's certainly not the worst sportsman or anywhere near it.

But he took one last year as well during the final. And his history of questionable retirements is unparalleled by any other top player.

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don't forget his newly found tactic of suddenly grunting loudly when put in awkward position which unsettles the opponent and causes them to miss. Happened many times against Del Potro and Murray in the final.

I mean seriously, how bush league was that 'injury TO' right before Murray served for it. He pulled the same thing last year's final when Nadal was gaining momentum. Utter lack of class and showing his true colors when the going gets tough. He has clearly surpassed Nadal when it comes to BS medical timeouts, at least Rafa took his GS final beatings like a man and didn't resort to tactics like that to try to throw off his opponent. No respect for him after today.

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Anyone have a link, I haven't seen that.

I don't like Djoke because he always gives an excuse, after losing to Fed at Wimbledon, he said "Well yea I've been tired for the last 4 days", it just seems he always has an excuse.

Fed, after losing badly to Murray at the Olympics, in contrast didn't mention his what 5 hour battle with Del Portro, but anyone with a eye could tell he was exhausted, missed serves, errors, played like a tired player.

I told my son, "Even if you sprain your leg, don't tell anyone, it sounds like an excuse and robs your opponent his victory"

If it works, it's a smart play. Gamesmanship is fine. Anything for the victory.

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You took the words right out of the mouth of Djokovic. This is what he had to say in 2005, when he took four MTO's in a match against Monfils,

At the 2005 Open, Djokovic beat Gael Monfils, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(5), 0-6, 7-5 in a match that spanned four hours and two minutes and featured four stoppages of play from Djokovic, who requested the trainer to treat his respiratory and cramping issues. At 4-4 in the fifth set of that match, the seemingly spent Serbian climbed off the court and took an injury timeout that spanned nearly 13 minutes then won three of the final four games.

Confronted with questions of whether he resorted to gamesmanship to pull out that victory, Djokovic said he could not have completed the match without receiving treatment.

“I cannot describe how I was feeling; you just have to be on court feeling it,” Djokovic said. “I’m not used to hard five-set matches. I know for people watching it (taking the breaks) is really irritating, but this is the only way I could win and continue. I am not thinking this would be nice for the people watching, I am thinking and trying to win.”

As you said anything for the victory. Leopards really don't change their spots.

You took the words right out of the mouth of Djokovic. This is what he had to say in 2005, when he took four MTO's in a match against Monfils,

At the 2005 Open, Djokovic beat Gael Monfils, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(5), 0-6, 7-5 in a match that spanned four hours and two minutes and featured four stoppages of play from Djokovic, who requested the trainer to treat his respiratory and cramping issues. At 4-4 in the fifth set of that match, the seemingly spent Serbian climbed off the court and took an injury timeout that spanned nearly 13 minutes then won three of the final four games.

Confronted with questions of whether he resorted to gamesmanship to pull out that victory, Djokovic said he could not have completed the match without receiving treatment.

“I cannot describe how I was feeling; you just have to be on court feeling it,” Djokovic said. “I’m not used to hard five-set matches. I know for people watching it (taking the breaks) is really irritating, but this is the only way I could win and continue. I am not thinking this would be nice for the people watching, I am thinking and trying to win.”

As you said anything for the victory. Leoprads really don't change their spots.

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I think he meant that is the only way he could continue playing not that he used it to win but I could be wrong. You never know with these guys

Djokovic may or may not have been hurting. But that was some ridiculous gamesmanship, calling the trainer and disrupting play right before murray had the chance to serve for it. imagine if nadal had pulled the same stunt

Djokovic may or may not have been hurting. But that was some ridiculous gamesmanship, calling the trainer and disrupting play right before murray had the chance to serve for it. imagine if nadal had pulled the same stunt

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Man, that would be some crazy stuff. There would be 5 threads about it in the general pro section with over a hundred posts.

He looked like he was in actual pain, unlike the king of the fake MTO, Rafa.

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He looked fine to me. And Cvac is far from saintly when it comes to taking mto's and retiring from multiple matches. How quickly folks forget him retiring from a match against Fed because he had a sore throat,and how he retired from the AO quarterfinal in 2009 because he was too hot. How about when he retired against Andy last year in the Cinci final when he was down a set and 0-3? Lily white he ain't.

He looked fine to me. And Cvac is far from saintly when it comes to taking mto's and retiring from multiple matches. How quickly folks forget him retiring from a match against Fed because he had a sore throat,and how he retired from the AO quarterfinal in 2009 because he was too hot. How about when he retired against Andy last year in the Cinci final when he was down a set and 0-3? Lily white he ain't.

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It is hard to call retiring from a match gamesmanship though. Of course, it can be considered bad sportsmanship, but it obviously isn't going to give him an advantage in the match. The OP (and other posters) seem to be more upset with dubious tactics that are used to gain an edge in the match.

Federer has not had many problems with injuries, so it's natural he would take considerable less MTOs.

It should be.

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Other players aren't just taking timeouts when they are injured, but also when their ankles are "taped too tightly" among other curious issues. These types of issues also seem to be very infrequent with Fed.

Anyway, I have a hard time accepting too many restrictions on injury timeouts, because you can't control when you get injured (to a certain extent). Unfortunately, this means some players will use them in a manner for which they are not intended.

I wouldn't mind the ATP keeping official records on MTO's, however. Given enough time, it should become pretty obvious which players are using timeouts as gamesmanship. Very interesting, how your tape always becomes too tight when your opponent is serving for the set. 8)

It is time to change the rule on MTO's. Make it a loss of the next game and loss of serve. The opponent was not at fault for your injury, and he should not be penalized for the injured person's time wasting. Too many players are using it to try to change the momentum. Make them pay a penalty for it.

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Yep. Penalty for calling the trainer. Another penalty if it extends to a full time out.
Add that to the rules and players will only use them when they truly believe the help they receive will keep them in the match.

If you want to make it even MORE interesting, give the opposing player a choice-
1) Game/Set penalties
OR
2) Financial % of your opponents total tournament prize $$$

And, Federer is the excellent - I think I only can remember 1 or 2 in 10+ years.

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A player don't have to be injured in order to take the MTO, in case you didn't know. If a player decides to delay the match to regroup or weather the storm, he can call MTO anytime. The umpire has no idea if a player is really hurt or not anyway.

A player don't have to be injured in order to take the MTO, in case you didn't know. If a player decides to delay the match to regroup or weather the storm, he can call MTO anytime. The umpire has no idea if a player is really hurt or not anyway.

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A player can also delay the match with a bathroom break. Fed's famous for his.

I always question speculation of anybody who would condemn a player for an injury suffered in a hard fought match, usually comments from a cheap shot artist. How would you know from where you sit how much pain a player is in? These guys put it on the line every day, i respect that.

You are comparing the SF of MS level with the last game before your opponent's serve(to serve for the championship) in a GS FINAL?

LOLworthy.

Plus, I didn't accuse Djokovic, he looked like he was really out of it physically(so I'm not questioning the validity) but his timing was bad. Hence the booing, by a crowd that usually is warm to Djoko.

Question: How many times was Nadal(master of the MTO, amirite?) booed by the crowd(outside of Paris obviously cause they boo there for anything, even when you check the marks - ON THE ONLY SURFACE WHERE YOU CAN DO SO) when he took MTO's/bathroom breaks?

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Masters 1000 events are the biggest events on tour outside of the majors. Why do you downplay Nadal's bush league bathroom break?

On another note, indeed the crowd is usually warm to Djokovic...surprising after the incident with Roddick a few years back and now this. Everyone love a winner.

A player don't have to be injured in order to take the MTO, in case you didn't know. If a player decides to delay the match to regroup or weather the storm, he can call MTO anytime. The umpire has no idea if a player is really hurt or not anyway.

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Of course, I was referring to the fact that it's only natural Fed would take less MTOs than Rafa, because he has had much less problems with injuries. It isn't anything that somehow speaks better of him than of Nadal nor anything like that. It's completely logical.

Djokovic loss and somehow JBF still butt-hurt to the point that he actually complement master MTO Nadal for not pulling his usual stunt at a particular time LOL :lol:
the butt-hurt is too strong with this one
it's incureable :mrgreen: